Christ Emmanuel icon depicting Jesus as a young figure with a wise, ancient expression

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Christ Emmanuel

Χριστός Εμμανουήλ

Christ
Emmanuel
12th century
Byzantine

About This Icon

Christ Emmanuel depicts Jesus as a young child or adolescent, yet with a mature, knowing expression. This is not a portrait of the historical child Jesus but a theological statement about Christ's eternal pre-existence — he is forever young, forever ancient, the 'Ancient of Days' who appeared as a youth.

The name Emmanuel ('God with us') comes from the prophecy of Isaiah and emphasizes the Incarnation.

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